US555704A

US555704A - Apparatus

Info

Publication number: US555704A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1913-03-03

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. L HUSSEY DREDGING APPARATUS.

,704. Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

WITNESSES.

ANDREW 8.6RANAM. PHOTO-LHNO.WASHINGTON. D C

3 sheets-sheet 2.

' -(No Model.)

L. HUSSEY. I DRBDGING APPARATUS.

,704. Patented M51 3, 1896.

INVENTOR ANDREW B GRAMMJHUYO LTTNQWASHINGTOND c 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 (No Model.)

L HUSSEY DREDGING APPARATUS.

No. 555,704. Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

NITED STATES- PATENT FFICE.

A LEVI HUSSEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. ASSIGNOR TO THE MINING AND DREDGING POWER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DREDGING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,704, dated March 3, 1896.

Application filed October 29, 1894. Serial No. 527,260. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI HUSSEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredging Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the improved dredging apparatus which is mainly designed for the purpose of regaining the gold particles contained in the bottom of gold-bearing rivers, lakes, or other water-courses, in such a manner that the gold-bearing sand is excavated from the bottom of the river and pumped into a suitable tank, the gold-bearing sand being then separated from the spoil by means of suitable sluice-boxes and the spoil delivered again into the river or other water-course, while the separation of the gold particles from the sand is accomplished by amalgamation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 .represents a side elevation of my improved dredging apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, showing some of the covering superstructure removed. Fig. 2 is a top view of the lower sluice provided with riflles or pockets. Fig. 2 is a section thereof taken on line 2 2* of Fig. 2. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical transverse sections drawn on alarger scale and, respectively, on lines 3 3 and 4t 4, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section of the receiving-tank and its' connection with the sluices for conveying the gold-bearing sand or spoil.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a barge of any approved construction, to the front end of which is applied an excavating apparatus consisting of a swinging crane B and a grappling-bucket O, which is operated by means of chains from a suitable hoisting apparatus B, said grappling-bucket serving to excavate the bottom of the river or other water-course in which my improved dredging apparatus is to be operated for regaining the gold particles contained in the bottom of the river. The crane B can be swung from one side to the other in front of the barge, so as to gradually loosen by the opening and closing of the grapple the bottom of the river to such a degree that the sand or spoil obtained thereby can be readily taken up with a corresponding quantity of water by independently-movable suction-tubes D, which are suspended by means of chains D, one at each side of the barge, into a pump P, preferably a steam vacuum-pump of the construction shown in Letters Patent heretofore granted to me, No. 526,652, dated September 25, 189%. The goldbearing sand or spoil is discharged from the pump P through an upwardly-bent dischargepipe D into a suitable settling-tank E that is supported on a raised trestle near the middle of the barge, as shown in Fig. 1.

The independently-movable suction-pipes D are connected at their upper ends by means of elbows D with horizontal sections Dflwhich are supported in stationary sleeveshaped bearings D that are attached to the deck of the barge, the inner ends of the horizontal sections D being connected by means of carefully-packed joints 6 with stationary suctionpipes D, by which the connection with the pump-chamber is made. The stationary suction-pipes D are provided with gate-valves that are alternately operated by means of steam-cylinders, so as to produce the sucking in of the spoil into the pump'chamber first through one suction-pipe and then through the other. The suspended independently movable suction-pipes D swing by the horizontal portions D in the stationary sleeve-bearings D on the deck of the barge, either together or independently of each other, as desired, and deliver the mixture of water and spoil sucked in bythe action of the pump through the stationary suction-pipes D into the pumpchamber whenever a vacuum is established in the same and one of the gate-valves opened for the admission of the charge. From the pump-chambei-P the charge is delivered by the upwardly-extending discharge-pipe D to the tank E, the discharge-pipe D being likewise provided near the base of the pumpchamber with a gate-valve that is operated by a suitable steam-cylinder.

The steam for operating the hoisting-engines, the pump, and the actuating-cylinders of the gate-valves is supplied from suitable boilers G located at the rear part of the barge, the boilers, pump and hoisting-engines being inclosed by asuitable superstructure, so as to be protected against the weather.

ICO

The receiving-tank B has an inclined bottom which directs the sand and other particles into a delivery-trunk E depending from said bottom. This deliverytrunk is provided with a transverse grating g, which serves to separate the fine gold-bearing sand from the larger particles of spoil, the sand be ing permitted to pass through the grating at the lower part of said trunk and the larger spoil beingheld above the grating. This trunk is provided with an inclined bottom or guide E Two sluices F and F are located at diferent levels and connect with the trunk E. The sluice 1 opens into this trunk above the grating g and the sluice F opens into the trunk below said grating. The upper sluice receives the coarser spoil which comes from the tank and the lower sluice receives the finer spoil and sediment. These sluices are supported on suitable trestles and extend some distance beyond the rear of the barge A and are supported at their rear parts by means of guy ropes or chains from a boom F (Shown in Figs. 1 and 2.)

The coarser spoil is propelled in backward direction in the higher sluice, F, at increased speed by means of an ejector g g, which is supplied with steam from one of the boilers G. At the bottom of the lower sluice, F, is arranged a number of shallow riiiies or pocket-s f filled with mercury, in which the gold particles, owing to their greater specific gravity, are retained, while the sand or lighter spoil is passed ever the mercury in the rifiles in backward direction, so as to be discharged into the river at some distance from the rear end of the barge. By this comparatively slow motion of the gold-bearin g sand over the shallow ri'llies at the bottom of the lower sluice, F, the gold particles can gradually pass down through the sand, so as to be collected in the riifles and retained in amalgamated state by the mercury in the same. The dredging apparatus permits thereby the working of the accumulated sediment of; gold-bearing rivers and other watercourses and the regaining oi the gold particles contained in the same, even if the quantity is comparativelysmall, as the separation of the gold particles by the collecting-riff] es on the barge, in connection with the excavating and pumping appliances, can be accomplished at a comparatively small cost, so that a remunerative yield of gold is obtained.

For the purpose of imparting a larger sweep to the excavating apparatus and distributing the spoil from which the gold particles are separated over a greater area at the rear of the barge, the barge is supported in the river or other watercourse by means of three spuds, a front spud, II, which passes through a spudwell in the center of the barge near the upright of the crane B, while two rear spuds are passed through spud-wells at the rear part of the barge. Suitable devices are provided for hoisting and lowering the spuds. Vhen the rear spuds, H, are raised from the ground the barge can swing on the front spud, ll, in either direction at a suitable angle of inclination to the direction of the current or to the initial position of the barge. This is accomplished in the usual manner by means of suitable tackle that connects the rear end of the barge with fixed points that are established on the shore or at suitable points in the water on either side of the barge. By the circular sweep which is thus given to the front and rear ends of the barge the excavating device can be worked over a larger distance and the suction-pipes will swing in the center of the cut made by the same. The spoil from which the gold particles are extracted is delivered at the rear end of the barge and distributed over a larger area, so that it cannot accumulate at the bottom and form obstructions in the river or other water-course.

The dredging apparatus is moved gradually forward in the river and works up successively the bottom of the same and separates the accumulated gold particles from the sand or spoil, the gold being regained from. the amalgam by any known process.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patenta 1. The combination of a barge, an excavating apparatus supported at one end of the same, a pump on the barge, suction-pipes suspended at both sides of the barge and connected with said pump, means for raising or lowering the suction-pipes, a receiving-tank for the gold-bearing spoil, a discharge-pipe leading from the pump to the tank, sluices connected with the tank and arranged at different levels and a grating separating the higher sluice from the lower sluice, the latter being provided with amalgamating-rifiles for collecting the heavier gold particles from the lighter sand or spoil passing over the same, substantially as set forth.

2. I11 dredging apparatus, the combination of a barge, an excavating device, a pump on the barge, suction-pipes and discharge-pipes connected with the pump, a receiving-tank for the spoil, it delivery-trunk below the tank, sluices connected with said trunk and arranged at diiierent levels, a grating in the trunk 011 a level with the upper sluice, an ejector in the upper sluice, a laterally-inclined trunk connecting the delivery-trunk with the lower sluice and amalgamating-riflles in the lower sluice, substantially as set forth.

In a dredging apparatus, the combination with a barge, of an excavating apparatus supported thereon, a pump on said barge, independentlymovable and disconnected suctionpipes suspended at opposite sides of the barge, means for raising and lowering said independently-movable suction-pipes, stationary suction-pipes connected to the pump-chamber and having valves, horizontal pipe-sections connecting the independently-movable sue tion-pipes with the stationary suction-pipes and oscillatory relatively to said stationary charge-pipe connecting said pump and tank, a delivery-trunk below the tank, sluices connected with said trunk, a grating in said trunk, an ejector in said trunk, and riffles in one of said sluices, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in pres- 2o ence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEVI I-IUSSEY. Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, GEO. L. WHEELOOK.